Name your ten favorite episodes

[Livie's Friend]

You know what? You are absolutely right.  I LOVED the Firestorm.  As I've said in the past, I loved every episode your mom was in, even if it was just for a short scene.  So, there you go.

Perhaps we should change the list to the Top Twenty Favorites since there are others that would also make my list, this being one of them.

[Brenda]

Jul 17, 2024 4:18:43 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

Sorry I haven’t been on the Forum for a while. Life has just been crazy lately and it seems I spend more time just keeping my head above water! I love all the Forum posts and my habit was to read them before I go to bed. Now I’m asleep by the time my head hits the pillow! I will try to make time for more involvement, I hope.

I loved to read everyone’s post of their 10 favorite episodes-but truly CRUSHED that not one person included “The Firestorm”! I know it is a favorite of Judy Norton and I know Earl thought it one of the best, also. But, obviously, I am a tad biased!!

Well, I love EVERY SINGLE SHOW my Mom was on. The residuals helped paid for part of our son’s college tuition!! I hope the reruns last forever!!!

I’m glad to see your post on the forum. I’ve missed you.  I have tried several times to respond to this thread, but I haven’t been able to narrow it down to my 10 favorite episodes.  “The Firestorm” would certainly be included in any list of favorites that I might eventually come up with though. 

This thread reminded me of a thread on this forum awhile back about our favorite episode for each character.  I have been searching for that thread, and I finally found it this morning. It was a thread started by forum member Zedxclon  in 2012. I can’t believe it was 12 years ago!  Anyway, if you read through that thread, you’ll see that several of us listed “The Firestorm” as the best episode that featured John Boy.  I’ll add that it was likely the best episode for Flossie Brimmer too. 

You can read that 12 year old thread here:
Best Episode for Each Character

[flossieskid]

Thank you so much Brenda. I appreciate the info and will definitely check that out. Hope you are well and surviving this crazy weather we are having throughout the whole country. Take care.

[joezeb]

The firestorm is definitely up there as one of my favorites Flossie's heartfelt explanations to John Boy as to why she didn't want the paper to go to press was very real and heartbreaking. She was a great actress

[Zedxclon]

Gosh, Brenda - I can't believe that was 12 years ago either. Time sure flies. As I'm here, let me have a think of what my top ten episodes are

It's been four years since I did a complete watch-through of The Waltons - though I've watched random episodes at different points during that time. In theory, this will help clarify my mind and bring the ten episodes that left an impression to my mind. Here are my ten favourites (not in order, just ten favourite overall).

1. The Achievement - so moving. The end of an era, but in such a positive way. It really captures that feeling of something great happening in life.
2. The Firestorm - profound. On my most recent watch-through, I realised and appreciated a whole new level to it. Not only is it about the importance of free speech, but about how fear of fascism can ultimately drive fascist behaviour. A real masterpiece.
3. The Statue - a comedy episode that's a perfect pick-me-up. It's the funniest episode of them all and captures the joy of regular life on the mountain when there's no big drama going on. Fantastic.
4. The Love Story - there are a few romances on The Waltons that I like, but there's something special that brings me back to this one. I wish Jenny was in more than two stories.
5. The Violated - Olivia coming up against the rapist on the mountain, and giving a speech about how the victim is never to blame, is one of her proudest moments as a character. Superbly written.
6. The Best Christmas - the definitive Waltons Christmas special as far as I am concerned - though to be fair, both versions of The Homecoming, The Spirit, and The Children's Carol all have a special place in my heart too.
7. The Revel - this may seem like an odd choice, but I actually see it as a kind of counterpart to The Achievement and I think it adds a lot of depth to the show to have John-Boy essentially failing where he once succeeded, with the ending basically being "it's okay to go back home and find your feet if things don't work out" which isn't a message you see often on TV.
8. The Conflict - very cool, high-stakes story that highlights the way a lot of ordinary people were treated awfully. If there had ever been a cinematic Waltons movie, I reckon this story would have been a good choice.
9. The Five Foot Shelf - a simple, but very moving, and very real story. Just standard Waltons at its best.
10. The Anniversary - an episode built around a positive milestone in the family. A pleasure to watch.

I realise I have nothing from Season 2, 4, or 7 there, but I guess that highlights the difficulty of choosing just ten! Season 5 is my favourite, as you can probably tell. To be honest, writing this made me was to start again from the beginning it may be long overdue!

[Brenda]

Zedxclon , what a great post. I enjoyed reading your descriptions and your reasons for choosing each episode. I’m still thinking about my 10. I’ll narrow it down one of these days. It took me a minute to figure out who you are because I didn’t recognize the name. Then I saw it. “AR15”

[Zedxclon]

I look forward to your Top 10 soon, Brenda I think The Waltons is a lot tougher than other shows, because it can be so many things - wholesome comedy, horror, historical drama, romance, progressive allegory, and loads of other things. There are so many things to love The Waltons for.

And yes, "Zedxclon" was actually my user name when I first joined the forum, and I changed it back because I so often hear about AR15 guns and I didn't want people to think I named myself after a gun (AR15 was just my initials against a random number, "Zedxclon" is a word I made up so I'd have a username I could always claim )

[alanankrett1]

Hi ya
Where in the UK are you from?

[granpasgirl]

I too, am flabbergasted!! 😯
My all time favorite episode was The Firestorm!!! I cry every single time as Mrs Brimmer finishes reading the first verse of Genesis in English and John-boy turns and hands the German language Bible to Rev. Fordwick—-Wow…what a powerful moment!

[Alice]

Ten episodes from my all time favorite show that ran for 9 seasons. This is going to be quite the task.

10. The Attack- S 7 E 18
9. The Pony Cart- S 5 E 10
8. The Thanksgiving Story- S 2 E 10
7. The Sinner- S 1 E 7
6. An Easter Story- S 1 E 24
5. Day of Infamy- S 7 E 10
4. The Burnout- S 4 E 18
3. The Best Christmas- S 5 E 11
2. Grandma Comes Home- S 6 E 22
1. The First Casualty- S 6 E 8

[Old Fool]

Reading through these replies, I have seen that many of the episodes that I consider are my favorites are also some of the other members here as well.

1. The Burn Out- This episode was probably the most dynamic episode I have ever watched of The Waltons. You have the fear the family goes through during the fire. How they overcome and work together to rebuild the top floor of the home. You have the subplots where all the children are at different homes and then the interaction between John Boy and Grandpa.

2. The Firestorm- This was a landmark episode in my opinion on censorship. The way John Boy stood his ground on his beliefs and then stood up to Rev. Fordwick was remarkable. Flossie Brimmer reading from the German Bible was one of the most iconic scenes of any Waltons scene in the series.

3. The Fighter- I enjoyed this episode so much mostly because of the talent exhibited by the guest star Cleavon Little. His performance in this episode was amazing in my opinion. Also how Olivia changed throughout this episode and this was another episode where the people of Waltons Mountain all came together to help someone.

4. The Attack- Not that I ever wanted Ike Godsey to have a heart attack, but the performance given by Ronnie Claire Edwards in this episode was amazing. She showed so much compassion that in previous episodes we would have never thought was there for her.

5. The Empty Nest- The Tribute to the passing of Will Geer. The only thing that was wrong with this episode is I thought it could have been a two part episode and made much longer. Grandma Walton sitting on the side of the Mountain reminiscing about times with Zeb was another of those iconic scenes in the entire series.

6. Grandma Comes Home- In the same vain as "The Empty Nest" this episode was just plain special because it was the return of a very special character in the show. You could see the impact on all of the actors the return of Ellen Corby to the set had on all of them.

7. The Fire- This episode was quite tragic in a few ways. Not only because of Lutie Bascomb sets the school on fire because of his own beliefs on what he thinks is being taught is wrong in the school and to his daughter, but mostly because his abuse on his daughter. To add to that Lois May Bascomb loses a father in this episode so it is quite tragic.

8. The Gift- This is another episode with another extremely talented guest star in Ron Howard. The episode is also very sad and the performance that Jon Walmsley puts in is also quite amazing. Ron Howard's performance was top notch as well.

9. The Festival- This episode challenges racism and Jon Walmsley puts in another fantastic performance in this episode. T.K. Carter who played Jody Foster, the son of Verdie and Harley Foster also puts in a top notch performance as the trumpet playing prodigy. 

10. The Ordeal- This episode I like as it does focus on my favorite character Elizabeth and it is a two part episode. Tragedy strikes Elizabeth and she puts in a very good performance in this episode. The cast member however that I believe does a stand up job in David Harper in this episode. He is riddled by guilt that Elizabeth is injured and feels it is his fault, but one of the last scenes in the 2nd part between Elizabeth and Jim Bob is amazing. 

[carol]

Sept 1, 2024 9:10:02 GMT -5 Old Fool said:

Reading through these replies, I have seen that many of the episodes that I consider are my favorites are also some of the other members here as well.

1. The Burn Out- This episode was probably the most dynamic episode I have ever watched of The Waltons. You have the fear the family goes through during the fire. How they overcome and work together to rebuild the top floor of the home. You have the subplots where all the children are at different homes and then the interaction between John Boy and Grandpa.

2. The Firestorm- This was a landmark episode in my opinion on censorship. The way John Boy stood his ground on his beliefs and then stood up to Rev. Fordwick was remarkable. Flossie Brimmer reading from the German Bible was one of the most iconic scenes of any Waltons scene in the series.

3. The Fighter- I enjoyed this episode so much mostly because of the talent exhibited by the guest star Cleavon Little. His performance in this episode was amazing in my opinion. Also how Olivia changed throughout this episode and this was another episode where the people of Waltons Mountain all came together to help someone.

4. The Attack- Not that I ever wanted Ike Godsey to have a heart attack, but the performance given by Ronnie Claire Edwards in this episode was amazing. She showed so much compassion that in previous episodes we would have never thought was there for her.

5. The Empty Nest- The Tribute to the passing of Will Geer. The only thing that was wrong with this episode is I thought it could have been a two part episode and made much longer. Grandma Walton sitting on the side of the Mountain reminiscing about times with Zeb was another of those iconic scenes in the entire series.

6. Grandma Comes Home- In the same vain as "The Empty Nest" this episode was just plain special because it was the return of a very special character in the show. You could see the impact on all of the actors the return of Ellen Corby to the set had on all of them.

7. The Fire- This episode was quite tragic in a few ways. Not only because of Lutie Bascomb sets the school on fire because of his own beliefs on what he thinks is being taught is wrong in the school and to his daughter, but mostly because his abuse on his daughter. To add to that Lois May Bascomb loses a father in this episode so it is quite tragic.

8. The Gift- This is another episode with another extremely talented guest star in Ron Howard. The episode is also very sad and the performance that Jon Walmsley puts in is also quite amazing. Ron Howard's performance was top notch as well.

9. The Festival- This episode challenges racism and Jon Walmsley puts in another fantastic performance in this episode. T.K. Carter who played Jody Foster, the son of Verdie and Harley Foster also puts in a top notch performance as the trumpet playing prodigy. 

10. The Ordeal- This episode I like as it does focus on my favorite character Elizabeth and it is a two part episode. Tragedy strikes Elizabeth and she puts in a very good performance in this episode. The cast member however that I believe does a stand up job in David Harper in this episode. He is riddled by guilt that Elizabeth is injured and feels it is his fault, but one of the last scenes in the 2nd part between Elizabeth and Jim Bob is amazing. 

The Empty Nest was either a two part or 2 hour episode. I saw it in the original run but can't remember how it was shown then. I do wish they could have convinced Richard Thomas to come back for that episode.

Grandma Comes Home is one of my favorites too. The last scene on the porch is all the more poignant because it was the last scene between Ellen and Will though no one could have known that when they filmed it.

The Attack showed us that Cora Beth really did love Ike. I think too his nearly dying made her realize just how much she loved him.

[runhard]

It's really great to see such a mixture when it comes to favorites not to mention I love reading why and the descriptions too.

[runhard]

Jul 17, 2024 4:18:43 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

Sorry I haven’t been on the Forum for a while. Life has just been crazy lately and it seems I spend more time just keeping my head above water! I love all the Forum posts and my habit was to read them before I go to bed. Now I’m asleep by the time my head hits the pillow! I will try to make time for more involvement, I hope.

I loved to read everyone’s post of their 10 favorite episodes-but truly CRUSHED that not one person included “The Firestorm”! I know it is a favorite of Judy Norton and I know Earl thought it one of the best, also. But, obviously, I am a tad biased!!

Well, I love EVERY SINGLE SHOW my Mom was on. The residuals helped paid for part of our son’s college tuition!! I hope the reruns last forever!!!

I agree The Firestorm is a great episode and it's subject so relevant today.